Framed marker drawings and finger paintings line the walls of the theater foyer like little masterpieces.
As a part of an Art Docent program, Sierra Heights Elementary students are getting the opportunity to show their artwork at the Carco Theatre.
“They get pretty excited. It gives them confidence in themselves,” said Doug Keys, a program’s docent. “I get them walking on cloud 9, but they need it.”
Organized by the school’s Parent Teacher’s Association, the program brings in volunteers, or docents, to teach kids about classic paintings.
The docents bring in large prints of famous artists and then teach kids about the techniques and the style used, Keys said. “Then they draw a picture in their own way about what they taught them.”
Kids use paint, markers, charcoal and colored pieces of paper to style their drawings. Sometimes it’s just up to them kids.
One week Keys asked kids to draw their favorite thing. He took the drawings home, cut them out and made a mural of them.
Though not every classroom has a docent, by time kids graduate they’ve likely had one for a couple years, Keys said. The program still looking for volunteers.
It doesn’t take much more than an interest in art to volunteer.
The program helps build a partnership with the school district and the city to help keep art as an important part of the education system, said Jennifer Hayes, a community development project manager.
“We want to showcase youth artists as well as local artists,” Hayes said. Carco changes its displays about every six weeks.
“It goes along with the teen musical,” Keys said. “After the show is over at Carco, they take the pictures back and hang them all over the school.”
The paintings at Carco were selected from an all-school show, he said, adding that third graders tend to be the prime age for producing good artwork.
“They’re very expressive and they’re more creative than the older kids are,” he said.
After being Boeing staff artist for 35 years, Keys has fun with the program.
“They kind of look at me kind of like a grandpa,” he said.
More Information:
Sierra Heights Elementary art exhibit, through July 31. Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Carco Theatre, 1717 Maple Valley Highway, Renton, WA.
